Editorial: Violence versus sex in video games

Society tends to oppose violence and sex in games. So, why does violence sell so well while sex is almost absent? Anton Wegenast takes a look

With the added media attention to violence in video games, and some taking a more critical look at content, video games are under the microscope again. The hot issue right now is violence in video games. Historically though, Western culture is far more concerned and offended by sexual content than violence.

The highest selling video games of the day are also some of the most violent. The Call of Duty franchise breaks sales and media launch records almost annually. The latest game, Black Ops II, was released without any undue scrutiny.

The most popular games sales-wise are almost always FPS titles that feature nonstop gunplay and various levels of gore. Strategy games like XCOM: Enemy Unknown aren’t without their fair share of explosions and multicolored blood. The market is also very familiar with action titles such as Sleeping Dogs and the God of War series. Many anticipated releases such as The Last of Us and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance are incredibly violent.

Violence in video games is a hot button issue right now, and it’s one that tends to come and go. Experience shows us people are not surprised, or necessarily against the level of violence in games. Sexual content in video games tends to garner way more attention, making the news much more consistently.

Blood and gore is more acceptable, apparently

When Crystal Dynamics unveiled gameplay footage of their upcoming Tomb Raider game, the developer stepped on some toes. The trailer featured a man making aggressive sexual advances at Lara, and triggered an uproar about rape being featured in the game. No mention was made about the graphic depiction of torture or other violence in the same trailer.

Valvepulled the controversial erotica gameSeduce Me from its Greenlight service despite community voting having already begun. Officially the game was pulled for violating the Greenlight terms. The game designer felt it was Valve not wanting to engage with the sexual content issue.

Hitman: Absolution also struck some raw nerves with its Attack of the Saints trailer. The video contained copious violence, but also sexualized imagery of women in nun outfits, which were quickly shed to reveal bondage PVC clothing. Agent 47 violently dispatched his adversaries in his usual fashion, but the combination of sex and violence together offended many.

As the video game industry finds itself yet again being criticized for its levels of violence, it’s important to review what tends to raise eyebrows. As an entertainment industry, video games simply supply detected demands. If sexual content consistently brings negative attention, yet violence is viewed with ambivalence, who’s to blame? Are we not dictating the nature of video games with our buying habits, and our relative complacency with certain kinds of content? Are we as consumers not responsible for the apparent monster we’ve created?

Perhaps it is just that those who are offended are speaking, and those who are not, keep buying.

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Personally I don’t think it has to do with the content. There is plenty of violence and sex in books, movies and TV. Consumers do not rage about the content shown on HBO. The reason being is that HBO is for adults, and sadly video games is still seen as toys for children. This is why Spec Ops: The Line is such an important title. It raises the very issue of violence in video games during the actual game. Hopefully more developers will take note of this idea and bring up similar issues in their upcoming titles.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened in an entertainment medium. Comic books came under heavy fire because some believed it was corrupting the minds of younger readers. You can also go back as far as the dime novels in the nineteenth century. Many parents believed that their daughters would turn into prostitutes if they read them. The current meetings at the White House are due to the fact that our industry is the youngest in the field of entertainment.

You bring up a good point that consumers speak with their wallets. If we keep buying violent shooters, developers will keep making them. And I’m one of these consumers. But sex in games is a strange thing, and I have no idea how to tackle the issue.

http://twitter.com/VirusSixZero Anton

It’s a non-issue for me. Producers put out products, but it’s up to consumers to use sound judgement in enjoying them.

You do not see warnings on the inside covers of books saying that you should only read under well-lit conditions, or that you should make sure to take breaks while reading to stretch or rest your eyes.

In the same vein, you do not see warnings on adult magazines and films warning that they could encourage unhealthy attitudes towards sex and intimacy.

The number one enemy of the video game industry is the misconception held by many that their products are designed for adolescents and children. It simply isn’t the case.

The games industry caters to a variety of tastes and demographics. It’s up to parents to control what their children consume. It is also up to voters to demand an education system that encourages social awareness and sensitivity.